The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following alerts and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
SB 23-162, legislation chain pharmacies support that would increase access to pharmacy services by allowing a pharmacist to delegate to a pharmacy technician any task within the practice of pharmacy for which the pharmacy technician has been specifically trained, except for patient counseling, drug regimen review and clinical conflict resolution, was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on March 9. The bill also removes the pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio at a central fill pharmacy, and it authorizes reimbursement under the medical assistance program for dispensing or administering vaccines to children under 19 years of age.
Also in Colorado, HB 23-1201, a PBM reform bill that creates transparency and eliminates spread pricing, was introduced, and assigned to the House Health & Insurance Committee.
Finally, March 15 is Pharmacy Day at the Capitol.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
SB 1102, legislation that would allow pharmacists to administer additional vaccines, tests and drugs and pharmacies to operate mobile pharmacies, was reported out favorably by the General Laws Committee on March 9.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Department of Health and Social Services presented an online seminar on the state’s unwinding of pandemic plan and its impact on Medicaid recipients. Beginning April 1, 2023, the state will begin requiring renewals from recipients. The impact to pharmacies could be a temporary loss of benefits.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The following two bills were recently introduced. NACDS thanks Idaho Retailers Association for its efforts.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
HB 1568, legislation granting pharmacists independent prescriptive authority of a drug product, was amended in the Committee on Public Health to include a requirement for Medicaid to pursue a state plan amendment for payment for pharmacy services for the non-dispensing activities associated with prescribing a contraceptive. The bill was passed by the House by a vote of 167-86-12, and it is currently awaiting further action in the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee. The Family and Social Services Administration (Medicaid) has confirmed that with this authority they would pursue a state plan amendment (SPA) that would encompass all non-dispensing, clinical pharmacist services for reimbursement under Medicaid.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
HB 2263, the pharmacy technician vaccine administration bill, was amended in Committee and passed the full House by a vote of 119-3. This bill was referred to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and will be heard on March 15.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
With the federal government ending the continuous Medicaid coverage requirement on March 31, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) is notifying Medicaid members that eligibility renewals will begin on April 1. DOM urges all Medicaid members to make sure their contact information is correct by clicking here.
To prepare for the return to annual renewals, DOM is sending notices to recipients alerting them to the change in federal requirements and to look for renewal forms in the mail in the months ahead.
To learn more, please click here.
Ways you can help:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
SB 41 by Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder (R) repeals the physician protocol requirement and adds language allowing pharmacists to order and administer certain FDA-approved or authorized vaccines to persons at least seven years of age or older, pursuant to rules promulgated by the Board of Pharmacy and the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, or rules promulgated under a state of emergency. The bill is pending on the Senate floor.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.